6 weeks in Italy
 

So, due to some crazy life changes, my husband and I will be spending six weeks in Italy starting at the end of August. We'll be there until about the middle of October and we've rented an apartment in the Oltrarno part of Florence. We went to Italy on our honeymoon two years ago, but due to sheer exhaustion, we didn't get to see as much of Tuscany as we had hoped. We want to do all the "typical" day trips from Florence, but I'm considering going somewhere else while we're there---one special trip outside of Tuscany where we have to stay overnight. I'm thinking Cinque Terre--what do you think? I'm having a hard time finding hotels online in Cinque Terre--I'm not even sure which town would be best for us! Is there somewhere else that we should consider going?

We have spent several days on Santorini - is Cinque Terre more beautiful? (I can't imagine so, but I figure I had to ask!) We're 25 and 26, like the idea of hiking from town to town in Cinque Terre, but are definitely open to going anywhere else (even if it's out of Italy, as long as we can get there via train or bus).

Any suggestions?

I am confused--is your apt. rental for 6 weeks?

6 weeks in Paradise? lucky you

train to France Stop in Bologna Lyon Paris Paris Paris

IMO, Santorini beats the CT for scenery, but the CT wins on the charm scale.

I wouldn't go to the CT (or anywhere else for that matter) for just one night. Why don't you tell us where you went on your honeymoon.

Sorry, to clarify, yes, our apartment rental is for the entire six weeks. We wanted to go somewhere where we could live (grocery shop, cook, etc.), not just vacation for six weeks.

For our honeymoon, we went to Rome, did a day trip to Capri, and then finished in Florence.

I like the idea of Paris.. What's the most budget friendly way to do it?

We're starting our trip in Dublin (cheapest flight from the US) and then using Ryanair to fly to Pisa. Should I look into places that Ryanair flies? Again, I love the idea of Paris (neither of us has ever been), but will transportation be a problem if we fly using Ryanair? Is the train simply better?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

fly. try Lufthansa also. They seem to be cheaper. We are flying Paris to Milan. go to Kayak.com and put in the cities.look for air/hotel pkg for the cheapest deal.

here is a suggested itinerary for a first time in Paris
SUGGESTED Itinerary -
(Musee D’Orsay, Carnavalet, Rodin, Versailles  closed on Monday
Louvre closed on Tuesday)
SATURDAY
MONTMARTRE METRO ABBESSES OR PIGALE
METRO TO  MONTMARTRE/SACRE  COEUR
WALK AROUND PLACE DU TERTRE
MUSEE MONTMARTRE (11-5:30) 12 RUE CORTOT  METRO LAMARCK
DINNER AT THE RESTAURANT NEAR THE SQUARE OR
STOP AT CAFE LE 2 MOULINS 15 RUE LEPIC METRO BLANCHE
METRO TO THE EIFFEL TOWER METRO BIR HAKEIM
SUNDAY
AM MASS AT NOTRE DAME  METRO CITE
VISIT TO ST. CHAPELLE
THEN BACK TO WALK AROUND ILE ST.  LOUIS  VISIT CHURCH ST. LOUIS
COFFEE AND A PASTRY AT #24  OR #40 RUE ST. LOUIS   AND/OR
METRO TO THE MARAIS  METRO ST. PAUL
MUSEE CARNAVALET (OPEN 10-5:40PM)23 RUE DE SEVIGNE  AND/OR
METRO MONTPARNASSE
VISIT TO MARKET (8:30-6:30)MARCHE BIOLOGIQUE BLVD RASPAIL
BETWEEN RUE RENNES AND RUE CHERCHE MIDI
DINNER AT LA COUPOLE   102 BLVD DU MONTPARNASSE
MONDAY
METRO TO  ETOILE
WALK FROM L’ARC DU TRIOMPHE DOWN  CHAMPS ELYSEES
NAPOLEON EXHIBITION AT MUSEE JAQUEMART ANDRE 158 BLVD HAUSSMAN
THROUGH THE TUILLERIES TO THE LOUVRE  VISIT TO THE LOUVRE
WALK AROUND THE LATIN QUARTER
TUESDAY
METRO SOLFERINO TO VISIT THE MUSEE D’ORSAY
RER  TRAIN TO PALAIS DU  VERSAILLES
WEDNESDAY
METRO VARENNE TO VISIT LES INVALIDES/MUSEE DES ARMEES
METRO RABUTEAU OR CHATELET TO POIMPIDOU /FOUNTAINS
METRO TO BOIS DE BOULOGNE PARC DE LA BAGATELLE OR BOIS DE VINCENNES TO
SEETHE PARC FLORAL

SHOPPING/THEATRE/CONCERT/MOVIE...........................................


used this a coupe of years ago to show Paris to a friend

I disagree with the suggestion of Paris from Florence. If you want to include Paris in this trip, then go there first (from Dublin) or after your stay in Florence when you're on your way home.

Personally, I'd stay in Italy. Go to CT for a couple of days. Or Venice. Or one of the lakes. I'd use the trains.

I agree with Jean--why else did you book 6 weeks?
Theer are several great day trips from Florence that make sense--Paris is not one of them. Try Siena, Lucca, Bologna, Arezzo, and even Verona.

Siena, Lucca, Bologna, and Arezzo are already on the list. I'm just trying to think of somewhere that would NOT be a good day trip--somewhere that would require us to stay overnight and do a mini-vacation. For what it would cost to go to Paris, we could easily do a night or two in Venice, CT, and maybe even Milan.

Any suggestions on where to stay in Cinque Terre? What town, specific hotels, anything?

Hi Stonest - Easyjet fly Pisa-Paris (Orly) - probably your best budget option if you do decide to go.

www.easyjet.com

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Hi Frenchwow, welcome to Fodors! Your post didn't work out too well, for starters it is all in capitals which is difficult to read and in some cases means you are shouting at us. I'm sure you aren't! It's a good idea to preview your posts before hitting the 'submit' button.

If you haven't been to Venice before, that would be the place to go. If you can be there the first Sunday in September, you could watch the Regatta Storica. Two days would never be enough, but you are young enough to go back again and again.

to the grammar experts....I printed it in caps when I took the itinerary with me for easy reading. My 50 some year old eyes appreciate caps. I have a macbook and squint to see it.
I am sure most people realize caps are not a slight just a viewing convenience.
Appreciate the info and quit being sooooo critical.

yes Easy Jet also has a cheap flight from Milan but I would also suggest Dublin Paris than Italy
even
though i know you have the 6 week Italy booking in Florence.
I did take a train from Rome to Paris and stopped along the way for 2 nights in Bologna-that was fun too.

cathies Happy Fourth of July- this is America- remember Freedom......if we have Freedom of Speech we sure have Freedom of script.

Frenchwow, I don't know what kind of computer you have or which browser you're using, but you can probably enlarge the font. If you use Internet Explorer, go to View on the toolbar and drop down to Font Size.

Being able to increase the font size is one of the great advantages of computers. (You can also enlarge the font on a Kindle, one of which I am thrilled to have just acquired.)

bah humbug to you frenchwow, I was only trying to help a new user, I'm also in my 50's and wear glasses but don't see the need for capitals and non-user friendly layouts. I'm not an American, so quite frankly couldn't give a toss about Fourth of July!! You've posted 2 comments criticizing my attempt to be helpful - time to pull your head in!!!

Hi Stonest, Cinque Terre is a great idea - you could easily fill several days exploring that part of Italy and it's completely different from Tuscany etc which might be fun.